Description
The dev_load function in net/core/dev.c in the Linux kernel before 2.6.38 allows local users to bypass an intended CAP_SYS_MODULE capability requirement and load arbitrary modules by leveraging the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | perf +13 | 2.6.32-71.29.1.el6 | RHSA-2011:0498 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat MRG 1 | perf +10 | 2.6.33.9-rt31.64.el5rt | RHSA-2011:0500 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2011:0500 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel-rt security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0498 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
References
- https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/8909c9ad8ff03611c9c96c9a92656213e4bb495b
- http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=8909c9ad8ff03611c9c96c9a92656213e4bb495b
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=680360
- http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/linux/kernel/v2.6/ChangeLog-2.6.38
- [oss-security] 20110225 Re: CVE request: kernel: CAP_SYS_MODULE bypass via CAP_NET_ADMIN mailing-list